What I Saw Today at a Commercial Gym

Training Powerlifting
101

[quote]Rock978 wrote:

[quote]DSSG wrote:

[quote]Rock978 wrote:

[quote]kgildner wrote:
My gym has a dreadful lack of 20-kilogram plates and they tend to be scattered about at various locations across the free weights floor. Needless to say, performing deadlifts is always precluded by an impromptu game of “find that plate”, which can last for a few minutes.

I was therefore a bit irked this week when, during my search, I noticed that a rather tall, rather thin dude had taken two of the 20-kilo plates in order to do side bends (presumably with the goal of toning his obliques?). He was doing this unilaterally, mind you, and could’ve just as well used one plate and switched hands… Let alone used a 20-kilo dumbbell… But I guess there’s some kind of added training effect of using a plate instead of a dumbbell.

As an aside, I’m astonished at the amount of people at my gym who treat side bends as we’d treat squats.[/quote]

To be fair, Louie Simmons raves about the benefits of side bends. But there’s no reason to do them with the plates instead of a dumbbell, especially if the gym is lacking in plates.

I had the link to Louie’s article where he notes that side bends are the most useful core movement, but apparently the mods on this site don’t like us linking to articles from powerlifting gurus…

[/quote]
Yep, he sure does love his side bends like I love my suitcase pulls/shovel deadlifts/one arm deadlifts. [/quote]

He spoke highly of a side deadlift as well. Is this just another name for the suitcase pull?

“Side deadlifts also work the abs/obliques.
Stand next to the bar, facing the plates
on the right or left end. Lift the barbell
and try not to bend to the side. This
exercise will build the obliques
and stability in the glutes.”

Think I’m going to have to try them out.

[/quote]
They are the same exercise, just different name. I think he also liked one arm deadlifts at one part/still does.

102

[quote]kgildner wrote:

As an aside, I’m astonished at the amount of people at my gym who treat side bends as we’d treat squats.[/quote]

I think we go to the same gym, bro.

103

Talked to a guy I work with today who is 29 and about 140lbs and does not lift or train at all. Well he starts telling me he signed up to go to the gym and spent over $200 at GNC on supplements and bought steroids online that are legal because they took out the one illegal ingredient and put them in pill form…

1 Like
104

[quote]bdocksaints75 wrote:
Talked to a guy I work with today who is 29 and about 140lbs and does not lift or train at all. Well he starts telling me he signed up to go to the gym and spent over $200 at GNC on supplements and bought steroids online that are legal because they took out the one illegal ingredient and put them in pill form…[/quote]

When I hear something like that it makes me sad more than anything. It does sound like he wants and is willing to invest in his goals… but has no clue how to get there. Did you give him any resources or info? I understand that sometimes people don’t want to hear it and it’s best just to let’m go.

105

[quote]Fletch1986 wrote:

[quote]bdocksaints75 wrote:
Talked to a guy I work with today who is 29 and about 140lbs and does not lift or train at all. Well he starts telling me he signed up to go to the gym and spent over $200 at GNC on supplements and bought steroids online that are legal because they took out the one illegal ingredient and put them in pill form…[/quote]

When I hear something like that it makes me sad more than anything. It does sound like he wants and is willing to invest in his goals… but has no clue how to get there. Did you give him any resources or info? I understand that sometimes people don’t want to hear it and it’s best just to let’m go. [/quote]
I tried to tell him to just get started in the gym and learn a few things then figure out what your goals are. I then briefly explained that I’m not for or against using drugs but I want to get to my maximum potential first

106

One of the “trainers” who is there pretty often is fond of loading up the leg press with 3 plates on each side, having his 110 lb female clients do a few quarter reps, just so he can tell them “come on, this is what I warm up with!”

Actually see him working out by himself for the first time yesterday doing some “squats.” He of course puts the pussy pad on the bar, but not before he first wraps a giant towel around the bar and then puts the pad over said towel for even more “support.” Loads up the bar with a massive 250 lbs, proceeds to do a few quarter squats while grunting each time, then limps around the gym for the rest of his legs workout so the rest of us can know just how hard he was going at it with his quarter squats.

The sad part is that if I were forced to do a training session with one of the gym’s trainers, this guy may be the best (read: least worst) option.

107

[quote]Rock978 wrote:
One of the “trainers” who is there pretty often is fond of loading up the leg press with 3 plates on each side, having his 110 lb female clients do a few quarter reps, just so he can tell them “come on, this is what I warm up with!”

Actually see him working out by himself for the first time yesterday doing some “squats.” He of course puts the pussy pad on the bar, but not before he first wraps a giant towel around the bar and then puts the pad over said towel for even more “support.” Loads up the bar with a massive 250 lbs, proceeds to do a few quarter squats while grunting each time, then limps around the gym for the rest of his legs workout so the rest of us can know just how hard he was going at it with his quarter squats.

The sad part is that if I were forced to do a training session with one of the gym’s trainers, this guy may be the best (read: least worst) option.[/quote]I would recommend someone to a crossfit gym before this